2007-12-15 20:08:21 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
It's actually admitting they were wrong all these years - something the government doesn't do well!
2007-12-15 20:29:05 · answer #1 · answered by Beau 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Its not tobacco. Its just become too entrenched in American mindset that it must be illegal.
The reason it was MADE illegal had to do with combination of alcohol lobby, religious temperance, and mostly racism... since it was popular with mexicans and jazz musicians.
Now, the politicians don't have the guts to make a change that seems to many voters "bad". But, economically and in terms of having credible justice it is becoming near necessary. The way around this is to not prosecute people for it. The black market for drugs in general seems like something the government thinks it benefits from. It doesn't in terms of revenues, but it does in terms of having more jobs and bigger budgets.
Its a big mess, really. And legal, capitalist production of it would go too far probably in this country of extremes. If everyone could get weed cheaply that would be "too" available. Too many people would get mentally addicted and be unproductive.
The way it is now, where anyone can get it and get away with using it, but its not full blown legal and only the dumb, unlucky, irresponsible types go to jail for it - not the worst compromise in the world so it doesn't change. Only crisis or profit causes change. Not enough of a crisis of overcrowded prisons and unfair arrests yet. Not enough profit in legalizing.
2007-12-15 21:23:07 · answer #2 · answered by M H 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
DEA has remained opaque on this topic. I doubt much will change from within. And this has remained so regardless of red or blue White Houses.
The legalization is a political issue, based on moral values. I think there is sufficient academic work to show its medical effects do not merit its diabolical classification. Remember, there was a time when beer and whiskey were morally repugnant, hence illegal.
I've often believed that legalizing (and taxing) marijuana would create a pot (no pun intended) of money to deal more effectively with speed, cocaine and opium/heroin.
Good question, sorry it's so wide open for possible responses.
2007-12-15 20:23:20 · answer #3 · answered by going_for_baroque 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Partially, the other part is that all the illegal drugs create a black market. Have people really never thought that it might be possible that drug lords might slip some money to officials?
Here is a perfect example of something that happened months ago. A drug smuggler, who was also most likely smuggling people too, was caught trying to sneak across the border from Mexico by two border agents. One of the agents shot the smuggler in the butt, which the border agent could have did for numerous reasons. Anyways, the two agents are now in prison while the smuggler was released with no charges like nothing ever happened. Now wtf is up with that? There is obviously corruption at the top in immigration. Guess they got to protect their assets, huh?
2007-12-15 20:18:27 · answer #4 · answered by Arcanum Noctis 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No. Politicians just can't be seen as being "soft" on drugs regardless of how absurd it is.
In my own town Citizens voted in a law making marijuana the lowest law enforcement priority.
2007-12-15 20:17:35 · answer #5 · answered by Citizen1984 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
its a drug. why should it be legalized it kills brain cells. lowers ur brain function
2007-12-15 20:17:04 · answer #6 · answered by beccaboolynn20 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋